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JUST DENNIS: Labour behold your president

Dominica News Online - Monday, September 30th, 2013 at 12:25 PM

Dennis Joseph

The lady was really freaking out as she blurted out “Enough foolishness now, enough, enough. So what I should call him President Compere Lapen, or President Ayatollah or President Coul Woche Brigade because I will not call him President Savarin?” Then she went on after a moment, “I think Skerrit doing foolishness now.” Then in another moment she said with passion, “God be praised for Q95.”

My attempt to cool her down included a short history of Q95. I told her that it was Edison James the people should thank as God’s instrument for the existence of Q95 because when a week or so before the 2000 elections as the one who conceived the station I urged then PM James who I met at the GIS studio doing a recording to give us the broadcast license before election day and to that he asked me curiously, “Are you afraid we will lose? Fear no more.” He went ahead and granted the licence anyway.

We would never have gotten a licence from the DLP/Freedom coalition which included Charles Savarin and there would have been no Q95. I had conceived the station as a music station so James could not know then how this station would serve the people as an effective talk radio thanks to Lennox, Matt and Angelo, especially those in opposition to the policies of the rulers without which they would have no voice at all. Viva Edison! But all my lecture did was to bring out an even somewhat sexy rebuff from the lady, “I telling you about Savarin you telling me Edison. So who you rolling with den?” Does that statement make sense? She just could not stand Savarin.

It is not just that Savarin’s controversial image is the total opposite to the declaration regarding the decorum of our president as written up on the government’s own website which stresses that the president should be non-partisan and a great unifier for I know that means nothing to this ‘no law not even the Constitution can stop me” prime minister.

It is not only that Savarin is a serial boycotter calling for the boycott of Brizee Mart which is now closed down and while General Secretary of the CSA calling for the boycott of HHV Whitchurch in a CSA newsletter, while leader of the opposition calling for the boycott of then President Vernon Shaw and there is more. While after the death of Pierre Charles Bosso and the others of the Freedom Party executive sat in a meeting with him to plan their negotiations with the Labour Party which with ten seats was one short of the 11 needed he then slipped out of the meeting and went to make his personal deal with newly appointed PM Skerrit. No one can convince me that was not pre-arranged otherwise why would then President Liverpool go ahead and swear in Skerrit as PM if he only had ten seats at the time?

But what really itches my bleeper today is that Charles Savarin is elevated to the presidency by the government of the Dominica Labour Party-yes the DLP which he openly wanted to wipe off the face of the earth. Do you hear laughter labourites?

I was just listening perhaps for the hundredth time to one of my favourite songs from the gospel band Hillsong titled ‘Let the weak say I am strong’ based on Joel 3:10 in the Scriptures and that always takes my mind back to the time when the Labour Party meant something besides just shouting “Labour Power” in lockstep with nothing more than winning an election. It was a time of the fifties when the futures of many children of the poor were limited by low expectations, poverty and lack of opportunities for social and intellectual development.

A time of seriously low wages like less than a dollar a day, a time when the little people were condemned to be ‘carriers of water and hewers of wood.’ A time of strict class division of upper and very much lower classes and of “gwo boug” and “peti garcon” and “neg bod la mer,” of misery and hopelessness and near slavery type servitude and then came hope like a shining star of light in the name of Dominica Labour Party emerging out of the poor people’s trade unions. The clear goal of the DLP then was “Let the weak say I am strong.” It was Dominica’s first political party created by the people for the people and I was in my teens a zealous follower of the giants who strode across the fields of oppression crushing the obnoxious heads of the snakes of repression wherever they found them.

That was the Labour Party I rolled with and joined in the struggle for the liberation of the common people as we were called. Those of us who were upfront came under serious fire from the upper classes furious over this movement which was an exodus out of poverty. And that is the essential difference with the Labour Party of today for it is no more a movement but just a party loading up with all the wheelers and dealers until it has become mainly an expedient name to cover a collection of persons with personal interests which have nothing to do with the uplifting of the poor.

One of the persons used in the 70’s by the uppers to get at the labourites with an aim to kill the Labour Party was General Secretary of the Civil Service Association Charles Savarin and he did his work well locking down the island with strikes as often as he breathed air using the civil servants who fell for his charm. His tactics were brilliant as he was able to force the DLP to enact laws to control the outrageous strikes situation damaging down the economy and those laws were made to seem oppressive antagonizing the masses. The DLP was eventually overthrown by force in 1979, surrendering when ministers and labour supporters were under siege in their own homes as gangs surrounded their houses raining stones and other things on their dwellings and looting the shops of Labourites and others. President DeGazon fled the island and was replaced by Sir Cools Lartigue whose home was promptly and seriously stoned and the cake shop (Frans) of the family looted and their car burned in broad daylight. President Cools Lartigue resigned in terror.

Even deadly bullets were used to pepper the home of George Karam and his family seeking to kill them. Who was the main conductor of that orchestra? You guessed it-Charles Savarin. When the dust settled the Freedom Party then ruled the roost and it was again a politically blood thirsty Savarin who proclaimed a “we eh finish with them yet” demolition job on us labourites urging his followers to seek us out “in every nook and cranny.” Those were the days and nights of terror as the Ayattolah as he was named strutted his stuff and preened and spoke in special tongues about the mobilisa-shon and agita-shon of the popula-shon against the DLP.

It was just fifteen years later that the Freedom Party went into meltdown and to save their withering tails the party then morphed into – yes – the Labour Party, an unthinkable case of politics making strange bedfellows.

Former Freedomite Skerrit became the leader of the Labour Party and moved in his Freedom party friends right under the noses of the Labourites. It seems that the party’s main plank embraced in the words of the song, “Let the weak say I am strong, Let the blind say I can see, What the Lord has done in me,” is now set aside.

Now there are bands of assault weapon equipped special police outside our House of Assembly to ensure Savarin is appointed President against the people’s wishes. Skerrit has crash landed Savarin on the people of the Labour Party and Charles Savarin is laughing out loud as he enters the new 27 million dollar all too white and much too huge Presidential palace, expects to draw $10,000 this month end and reflects with amusement on who placed him there and just cannot believe it is-yes- you rewarding him for stoning you.

“Labourites behold your President, your gift to Dominica.”

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If there is one former labourite who have every right to hold Savarin in grudge to death is Mr. Denis Joseph. It was savarin who led the masses to challenge the status quo that Denis was enjoying back in the 1970’s. He was “the man with the master plan”. he was the Director of communications when the the amendment was tabled to amend the Libel and Slander Ordinance. It was Denis who actively supported the creation of a 45 square mile Freeport in the north of the island by an American business man. Yes Denis saw his Patrick John inspired empire crumble before his very eyes. Charles Savarin led the demolition crew. So I understand his vexation with President Charles Angelo Savarin.

But Denis, that was in the 1970’s. Have you ever heard about a man called Nelson Mandela and how he treated his jailors and murderers of black people in South Africa? Tell me how difficult is it to borrow a leaf from Mandela’s book?

“Stop the hatred. Do you know the number of DA children/ kids(as you call them ) at universities all over the world” ( Some DA Choo).

Here we go again!

The twisted, all bent-up warped; Dominica, mentality being displayed here again. My position here is not playing politics, nevertheless, what amazes me the most in reading such crap, is I am unable to comprehend why each time a writer, or communicate say anything interesting about our nations history, as to how it was, in comparison to how it has become, some uneducated person “cry’s ” hate!

In all that Denis conveyed in his commentary, the only thing that small minded person saw and focus on is “hate.”

You know the truth hurts, some people would rather die, than to read or here the truth spoken. In a democracy people have the right to say what they wish, wether we like it or not it seems to me in Dominica the truth is like a curse, however, all the political lies are accepted as truth.

That’s shameful; this person speaks of how many Dominicans are overseas in Universities, that may be so, but I can tell you right this minuet of at least one person who went to sleep last night without eating anything, and I am thousands of miles away in California; look around you see what you find.

You talk about people in university, around the world. What’s the point of going to China, Cuba, Morocco, Venezuela, and mediocre places like that to study, and after completion you cannot even use such education in the Caribbean, Dominica included.

Haven’t you heard there are people in Dominica, who apparently have civil engineering degree in their pocket, in Dominica, and cannot even use it there; so what’s your point?

If you think I simply wants to be political about it, whatever degree earned in the places I mentioned above, if you want to prove me ignorant and hateful, I suggest you send all your Dominica graduates into the modern world, Europe, North America, and see how much employment they will find based on the degree they now holds obtained from Cuba, Venezuela, and China, such degrees are not recognized in America.

i hope all is well on ur side and u doe seein no misery. shout labour power still. if skerro win nex election hope ur bottom doe start bleed under rough times and oppression and murder of de poor soon to come under de same labour u votin for

Dennis has a right to his opinion, but I suspect MOST mainstream Doominicans DISAGREE with him. Savarin has mich appropriate experience INCLUDING how he managed our 1979 constitutional crisis as CNS Chairman, an event that could have ended far more tragically as we have seen in other countries. I am sure he is capable of displaying independence and fairplay.

UWP should not put their energy into the New president election they should Talk about what they will do for Dominica That the Present Government cant or what they will do better its that simple. The President is ok.

Dennis Joseph,I suspect you will not becoming back here often just to read the readers comments, but if I had to write an article, mine would look just like yours minus the anecdote at the start. I was one of those who in my teens was excited about the Labour Party and couldn’t wait to turn 18 so I could become a card-carrying member. And then Charles destroyed the Party right before my very eyes! I never joined any Party since then. I often wonder if anybody tells our young people their history. Time passes so quickly! Alas!

Dennis, you must not be one-sided if you’re relating history; tell it as it was. The then DLP administration acted like dictators. They were a bunch of ruthless guys who threatened to jail Civil Servants in the Cabrits if they went on strike. Since you’re naming names, do you remember AG Leo Austin? After the DLP was ousted from power do you remember the attempted coup? A family member of mine was gunned down at Police Headquarters while sitting at his desk. There would have been so much bloodshed if they had gained entry to the Armory. This was a failed attempt to reinstate the defunct DLP. You were one of their drinking buddies; therefore I do not expect the truth from you.

Tradewinds you can be Merrymen if you want but your version is simply not true – NOBODY was GUNNED DOWN at ANY police station WHILE SITTING AT ANY DESK – people must stop the fantasy and myth Good Thing I am alive to daymatty zor

For your information, during the coup one PC was killed coming into police headquarters, by the entrance gate. He died on the spot.Those in control room had to jump for their lives as the bullets came flying in. Many won’t remember, except for those on duty at the time or those who had to assume duty the following day. Thanks be to God, because it could have been worse!

Congrats Charlo.It seems Linnox Linton is following in your footsteps with the same tatics to promote himself to the political top.We must also remember he and his two sisters were part of the stoning gang. Even Brian Alleyne was part of that troop.Life has change. So if Linton can be P M and Brian can be president so can Charles Saverin.Skeritte was 9 years old then.

The P M is 40 .When the 47 days happened he was only 6 years old. He cannot live in the past.He has to move forward the best he can. He too started in the freedom party. So give the young man a chance. You may not agree with his policy but he was duly elected in a record 18 to 3

Do you remember when Savarin threatened to strike on the Interim Government in December 1979 when most Dominicans were still living in tents in the Botanical Gardens and elsewhere, most without housing, jobs, and we were still getting help from outside of Dominica to maintain us Dominicans? Why? For the same reason he is being installed as president, because the Labour Party had been forced out of office then, and the Interim Government had been placed.

It is easier said then done. Forgiveness is usually preceded by apologies. I am not aware, Charles Savarin had seek forgiveness or even apologise to Mr. Dennis Joseph or Mr. Ferdinand Frampton and family or Mrs. Flossie Joseph, who in my opinion, was the one to have suffered the worse. As for me, I might forgive Savarin for what he did to me personally as an executive member of the Patrick John Labor Party, but I will never forget the wickedness.

I too cannot forget the wickedness. People were possessed with hatred ,the same kind that Lennox and his crew are brandishing in their fight for power.I too was a victim and am still a friend of P J .Given a chance the opposition will do the same as Charles.It is just a struggle for power and all polititions are trying to get support however they can.So chose your side and wait for next election. Both sides must stop with their hatred.

Mr. Joseph are you a Christian? Do you believe in the Risen Lord? Do you have a forgiving heart or are you going to carry such hatred of an individual to your grave?

I am certain that Mr. Savarin does not carry such hatred towards you. You a blinded by hate of an individual. The rank and file of the Dominica Labour Party have forgiven Charles Savarin as the Good Lord has taught us to. It shows that true Labourites are kind forgiving and all embracing individuals.

Give Charles Savarin a chance in his new role to further prove himself in a humble way.

And by the Way Charles Savarin was never appointed as Leader of the Opposition more so to boycott Mr. Vernon Shaw.

It is high time that skerrit is removed from office. Rally up Dominicans and gain your independence which was stolen from you since this man wa$ placed in office. It is high time that we wipe the wax from our eyes and see the truth. Rally Dominicans before it is too late-

This is a deliberate assault on our freedom and democracy which has some dark – sinister implications and hidden agendas which will come to light in the not too distance future. They shall fall prey to their own mischievous devices.

It is clear that Flossie Joseph has forgiven Charles Savarin. I can say the same for Son Joseph as well. That couple suffered during 1979 but remained true to Labour and with their prayers and forgiving hearts accepted Savarin’s membership into the Roseau Central Constituency and by extension his membership into Dominica Labour Party.

God has shown us that he can lower the mighty and raise them up again once they have humbled and asked for forgiveness.

It cannot be all laughs for Mr. Charles Savarin!!! He still has a functioning brain and a brilliant memory and will be awarded by God with three scores and ten in age.

Do you remember Saul Mr. Joseph in the Bible? Yes President Charles Angelo Savarin is our modern day Saul. He was not blinded like Saul whose name was changed to Paul but was muted for several weeks. Moomoo!!!

The good God has given him his just punishments and rewards.

Let’s see what would be his legacy as President of the Commonwealth of Dominica – for that now is his burden.

I call on the Karams, Girauds, Latigues, Thomas, Josephs, Framptons, Johns, Kentish, Newtons, Pipers, and all the other families that suffered in one way or the other to find it within themselves to forgive President Charles Angelo Savarin and by extension Dominica.

Sorry Marcus, but while you bask in the democracy of the US where every one has the right to self expression,it urkes that a learned man like you would talk like this when your very people are on the brink of dictatorship.you know better.

You have just reminded us of all the reasons why Charles Angelo Savarin is unfit to bring Dominica together, to heal, mediate and preside over our Constitution as President of the Commonwealth of Dominica, the Head of State! Too many wounds, too many scars, to many bad memories, too much hurt! As you rightfully said God will do his bit but we are not God we are only human!

SHOES : how about the ones who died screaming in pain during 47 days of abandonment at the hospital?
the mothers who had to cut their own umbilical cords then watch their newborns die without nurses to help. And recent amputees who rotted alive while their relatives were blockaded – do you remember semi-literate patients administering medication to other patients?
How do you forgive over a month with no lights at a hospital AND PATIENTS DISCHARGING THEMSELVES CGHOOSING RATHER TO DIE AT HOME (and die some did)- and lets not even go down by the psychiatric ward for give DENNIS but remind us for the history is being passed on by word of mouth of the sufferers

Isnt that what uwp is calling for? to shut down the country? ask the blogger 1979 hypocrites

Like or Dislike: 12AnonymousOctober 1, 2013

i am in tears reading this, Dominicans wake up this man is as cold as it can get, with no feelings for humanity.

Like or Dislike: 10Peter karamSeptember 30, 2013

Dear Shoes, where is the Atonement? when were we told, we were sorry for that black day in our history. My daddy went to his grave with the hurt. for 35 years my family have never been told by anyone, we are sorry, please forgive us. never not once. so keep your shoes on tight bro.

Many politicians, when seeming to approach the zenith of their powers suddenly gravitate to self-destruction. What level of madness would lead anyone to appoint a notorious political agitator with a penchant for anarchy to a post that symbolizes social stability? The Presidency should not be a gift!

Charles is going to finished the Labour Party finally his dream revenge for the sacking as a school teacher from DGS in 1969. Yes I have lived to see it. Charles Saverine is getting his revenge on the Labour Party. Let the young know how deceived they have been. The man is being rewarded for his work as a good son of the church ……..
DNO,post

So really he should enjoy the state palace as he outshines mr skerrit in the number of things that is listed that he has done coming out the right dictator without effort. yes i. Jah Come down and rescue us. and to be given the highest honorary title as well hmmm all rather interesting.

All this is is a good read. I will point out that Mr. Savarin the man from Portsmouth who supported the Freedom Party is a good example of putting your differences aside for the development of Dominica. He did not let politics and his political views to polarize him into opposing everything that which the ruling party did just to oppose. He served Dominica and Dominicans in many capacities. Calling for a boycott of Brizee Mart did not shut down Brizee Mart. The poor business practices of Brizee Mart caused it to close down. Although calling for the boycott was extreme, the owners letter was a bit more dangerous calling on foreign governments to boycott Dominica. From history, a boycott of certain individuals does not affect those individuals, but affects the citizens of the country. I believe that Savarin will be a good representative of the Office of the President, and I do believe that he can be impartial in his decisions. If anyone has a nominee who has been and is without any political preference in Dominica, let the names/nomination flow. The Opposition should get in Parliament so that their disagreement to the nomination can be recorded. As of now, the news will be; “Savarin elected without opposition.” I pray that our Dominican people who decide to demonstrate do so peacefully and without disrupting the normal movement of people, vehicles etc. My humble opinion.

Remember: The Ultimate measure of a man (and by extension a people) is not where you (they) stand in moments of comfort, but where he (they) stand at times of challenges and controversy….The who said those words believed in peaceful demonstrations. So I will say to Dominicans, do not let a fool or fools insight you to cause harm to your fellow Dominican.

I’m sure it hurts you Mr. Joseph but even a blind man can see what the uwp is up to. Enough of the petty politics and show us that you mean it when you are talking about good governance and integrity in government which, by the look of things, we are not going to get if uwp gets into power. Put this bitter history behind you and look at things as they stand today. The Labour Party makes mistakes but uwp are showing they will probably be worse than Labour by their many questionable actions.

Dennis, I’m with you totally. I am dumbfounded to see that the DLP has put this man, a man who throughout his career has systematically worked on destroying the Labour Party. How could this happen? These twists and turns generally reside in hollywood movies. I know you are a genuine Labourite – going way back, you are the quintessential “Labourite”, and I am certain that what has befell the Labour Party aches your heart; I am in the same boat. This DLP as it manifests itself today, is NOT what the DLP at its core, represents; this is a disease that threatens the very existence of the DLP, and if it is allowed to continue, will result in the DLP being relegated to the dustbin of history, pretty much the same way the Freedom Party has been. I am ashamed. My cousin Claudia, rest her soul, is most likely rolling in her grave looking down on this charade, this pox on the Labour Party. This black sagitoka disease, aka Charles Savarin, is laughing at us all. I remember much of this history lesson you have brought forward here today; I remembered when they were stoning; the shutting down of the country; all the obvious backroom dealings of this man and the Freedom Party.

LABOURITES: Those who fail to learn from the mistakes of the past are condemned to repeat it. Let us take back this party from the cartel that has foisted itself upon us. Marcus Garvey once said; “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots”.

These people tend to forget that whatever happens in the dark will eventually come to light and everything is just for a time. I hope they continue to enjoy throwing our country in the drain while it lasts cause change is a must and nothing in life goes undone!

Wow what a story…I could almost picture 1979 again. Also the way that the Freedom party infiltrated the labour camp. Now we have an ex young Freedom movement leader as Prime Minister and an exx Freedom party leader as President.. way to go Freedom. who say Ffreedom dead…I think we should say that the labor party is now possessed ……by the Fredom party

What a masterpiece! Very well put together, brings back memories, a classical essay. Freedomites will now recognize how we were betrayed. The price is much more than 30 pieces of silver. How can Tony let this happen? Who is guarding the chicken coop. PLUIS TARTE PLUIS TWISTE. AH MA GWEY SA.

Why are you scared? Are you scared of the truth? The truth which a certain historian will never tell you. I was a civil servant in 1979, my mother was a devoted labour supporter and my sympathies lay with the labour party and nothing said by Dennis is incorrect.

I hear people talking about forgiveness and I am one who believes in forgiveness but to those people I ask, what has saverin done or said to show that he deserves the forgiveness of “TRUE LABOURITES”? Some may try to get religious with me and say that God forgives us even though we do not merit it and with that I agree too. However we are humans and subjected to human frailties.

It was not so long ago that saverin displayed his hatred and intolerance by calling for the boycott of Jerry Brisbane’ s business. As part of that call he went on to remind us, labourites included , of what he had done and how proud he was/ is of doing so. Is that a man who is worthy of forgiveness. To forgive this man is like a woman forgiving a man who sexually assaulted her while the man is saying to her just remember what I did to you and if I catch you again it will be more of the same.

Saverin is such a deceptive and selfish person that he was prepared to sit with people like the mayor while on his hert there is no love for him. I can say without apology that this man is a hateful person and is motivated by greed. He hates mr James because his party was toppled by UWP and now he hates supporters of the UWP because there seems to be a real possibility of labour being ousted by them.

I shivered as I read this. This Charles Savarin has to be “The Prince” whom Niccolo Macchiavelli wrote about. SMH. Dominicans don’t know the half of this man who is our President. His ambition is scary!!!

They learn the wrong history. Most of the followers truly have no memory of the events!

Well-loved. Like or Dislike: 60LADYSeptember 30, 2013

You got it right Kubuli
“But one must know how to disguise this nature well, and how to be a fine liar and hypocrite; and men are so simple-minded and so dominated by their present needs that one who deceives will always find one who will allow himself to be deceived.” Niccolo Machiavelli

Great history Mr Joseph,our people have gone back to the slavery days,and skerro is the slave master,such fools in this poor country,they will never progress,while skerro enriches himself and their kids go hungry.

Stop the hatred. Do you know the number of DA children/ kids(as you call them ) at universities all over the world through PM Skerrit.I dont agree to all he does but UWP NEVER nominated a person and caused the confusion NOW.

So tell me. Had the UWP made a nomination would that have stopped the nomination of saverin? Do you really think that if they had nominated sombody like miss Nicholas for example, that skerritt would agree? You people make me sick with your silly excuses for not speaking out against wrong

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